MLB Player News
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Yainer Diaz C | HOU
Astros' Yainer Diaz: Out of lineup for Game 4
Diaz is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 4 of the ALDS against the Twins.
Diaz takes a seat after going 0-for-5 with four strikeouts as the Astros' designated hitter Tuesday in Game 3. Yordan Alvarez will fill the DH role Wednesday in Game 4, with Michael Brantley patrolling left field and Martin Maldonado again handling the catching duties.
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Yainer Diaz C | HOU
Astros' Yainer Diaz: Will be DH for Game 3
Diaz will start at designated hitter in Game 3 of the ALDS versus the Twins on Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Diaz had an excellent rookie season for the Astros but has been limited to one pinch-hitting appearance in the first two games of the ALDS. Presumably, his start in Game 3 will come at the expense of Michael Brantley, with Yordan Alvarez playing left field.
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Twins' Christian Vazquez: Not starting again in Game 2
Vazquez is absent from the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series versus the Blue Jays.
Vazquez and Ryan Jeffers basically alternated starts at catcher during the regular season, but it's been Jeffers behind the plate for each of the first two games of the postseason. The only tweak the Twins made in their lineup from Game 1 to Game 2 was flip-flopping Jeffers and Matt Wallner in the batting order, with the former moving down to eighth and the latter up to seventh.
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Christian Bethancourt C | CHC
Rays' Christian Bethancourt: Out of lineup again Wednesday
Bethancourt is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Rangers.
Bethancourt also began Game 1 on the bench, although he did enter at catcher late after Rene Pinto was lifted for a pinch hitter. The Rays began leaning toward Pinto over Bethancourt behind the plate in September and that has carried over into the playoffs.
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Tyler Heineman C | TOR
Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman: Plates three RBI
Heineman went 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk, three RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 12-8 loss to the Rays.
Heineman opened up the scoring for the Blue Jays with a two-run triple in the second and then added on with an RBI single in the sixth. Sunday was Heineman's second multi-hit game of the year and his first RBI of the season. For now, he's the team's backup catcher with Danny Jansen (finger) working his way back from a fractured right middle finger, but Heineman may lose his roster spot, with Jansen expressing optimism he could return for a potential postseason run.
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Cam Gallagher C | PHI
Guardians' Cam Gallagher: Limited role in final month
Gallagher played in just eight games in September, going 1-for-20 (.050).
Gallagher's usage declined with Bo Naylor earning the starting role behind the dish and David Fry settling in as backup. Over 149 plate appearances this season, Gallagher slashed a terrible .126/.154/.168 with six doubles, seven RBI, six runs scored and no home runs. He's still a fine defensive catcher, but there's likely little future for him in Cleveland.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Gets breather in finale
Kirk is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rays.
This was essentially a certainty after Toronto clinched a spot in the postseason, as Kirk started 10 of the prior 11 games and could really use a breather. He hit .231 with two home runs, nine runs and 10 RBI in 27 September games.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Homers in Saturday's loss
Perez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Yankees.
Perez has gone 8-for-24 (.333) with two homers and seven RBI over six games since returning from the 7-day concussion injured list. His numbers through 139 games this season have largely been in line with what he did in 114 contests in 2022. Perez is slashing .256/.294/.424 with 23 homers, 79 RBI, 59 runs scored and 21 doubles entering the final game of 2023.
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Jonah Heim C | ATL
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Knocks in three
Heim went 1-for-4 with a walk and three RBI in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Mariners.
Heim had a two-run single in the third inning then walked with the bases loaded in the fourth, helping the Rangers to clinch a playoff berth. Texas can clinch the division title with a win in Sunday's season finale, which means an important piece like Heim could start one more game. The catcher's rate statistics fell off following an August wrist injury, but Heim has remained productive as a run producer, delivering 25 runs over 40 games since returning from the injury. For the season, Heim has a .375 batting average, .705 slugging percentage and a 1.117 OPS with runners in scoring position.
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Logan O'Hoppe C | LAA
Angels' Logan O'Hoppe: Knocks 14th homer
O'Hoppe went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Athletics.
O'Hoppe had one of just three hits for the Angels in the game, giving them a short-lived 3-1 lead in the seventh inning. The catcher is up to 14 homers this season, four of which have come over his last 10 games as he finishes the year in good form. He's slashing .238/.284/.503 with 29 RBI, 22 runs scored, six doubles and no stolen bases over 50 contests this season.